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Israeli rescue forces and police at the scene of the fatal crush during Lag B Omer celebrations on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)
Following a heated debate, a key Knesset panel on Monday approved the fast-tracking of an opposition-pushed bill to form an official commission of inquiry into the Meron disaster, in which 45 ultra-Orthodox worshipers were crushed to death during a religious festival last month.
No arrests have been made since the April 30 tragedy during Lag B’Omer celebrations at Mount Meron in northern Israel, the deadliest civilian disaster in the country’s history, though it is being investigated by the Israel Police.
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Israeli rescue forces and police at the scene after a mass fatality scene during the celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)
Police on Monday detained for questioning two engineers who were involved in approving arrangements at a religious festival last month where 45 people were crushed to death in an overcrowded walkway.
Investigators from the Lahav 433 national crime unit brought in the safety engineer and the safety adviser who signed off on the Lag B’Omer festival at Mount Meron.
It marked the first formal questioning or gathering of testimony by police as they probe the disaster that happened 11 days ago.
Mandy Tzadik, 19, was one of 63 people who lost a father in the tragic crush on Lag BaOmer; as the oldest of five siblings, he says he is determined to honor his father Ariel's memory by following in his footsteps
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Northern District Commander Shimon Lavi (R) and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai (R) at Mount Meron ahead of the tragedy, April 29, 2021 (Israel Police)
Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai has asked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit for either a state commission of inquiry into the Mount Meron disaster or some other form of official investigation of the incident last week, during which dozens of people were crushed to death, the Kan public broadcaster reported Wednesday.
There have been increasing demands for a state investigation of the tragedy during Lag B’Omer celebrations last week, in which 45 people including numerous children and teenagers were killed and over 150 were injured.
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Security officials and rescuers at the scene of a fatal crush during Lag B Omer celebrations at Mt. Meron in northern Israel, Friday, April 30, 2021. (AP Photo)
A police assessment ahead of this year’s Lag B’Omer festivities on Mount Meron warned of the dangers of overcrowding at access points as well as the possibility of structures collapsing, and specifically cited dangers surrounding the exit route where 45 people lost their lives in a crush overnight Thursday-Friday, a TV report said.
Channel 13 reported that the document warned of overcrowding in the Toldot Aharon compound, the scene of the crush, and urged that the exit route be expanded.